With the COVID-19 pandemic, early school closures, and ever-changing guidance from the state regarding social distancing and public gatherings, this has definitely been an atypical graduation season for the local classes of 2020.
Huntingdon, McKenzie, and Clarksburg High Schools all managed to get their graduations done in May, though with some departures from the traditional framework, and Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central and West Carroll High Schools will finish it out with commencement exercises set for next week.
Central High School Graduation
A total of 39 seniors at Central High School are set to graduate on Tuesday, June 16, starting at 7:30 p.m. on the football field at Joe T. Herndon Stadium.
According to CHS Principal Joe Norval, graduating seniors will be seated on the football field, and each senior’s parents will also be seated on the field, as well.
All other attending family, friends, students, community members, and staff not participating in the ceremony will be spaced out as much as possible in the home and visitor side bleachers and in the areas surrounding the field.
Norval is encouraging people to bring their own lawn chairs in case socially distanced space runs out in the bleachers and they would rather not stand or sit on the ground.
For those who would prefer to watch from the comfort of their own parked vehicle, Norval said the ceremony will be broadcast live via FM radio, though the exact channel had not been determined as of press time.
The ceremony will also be streamed live on Facebook.
West Carroll High School Graduation
The starting time of commencement at West Carroll High School has been changed from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. with around 75 seniors set to walk the line on the football field.
According to Director of Schools Dexter Williams, they had not placed any limitations on attendance as of press time, though he added that he would be releasing specific guidelines regarding attendance, seating, and other issues over the next few days.
Two seniors, Olivia Goostree and Victoria Reimann, who have both enlisted in the military, graduated early during a special ceremony held June 4 in the high school gymnasium.
